Since appearing in the comedy "Freaky Friday" opposite Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis 10 years ago, actress Haley Hudson has made a career of playing complicated and often unusual characters as in the upcoming film "The Pact 2" and the new TV pilot "Queen Gorya." Today, Hudson is set to star in the season finale of the popular CBS crime drama "The Mentalist" at 10 p.m. Sunday, May 18.

Although the show's plot is under wraps by the network, Hudson plays Christie De Jorio, a young woman whose family is involved in a case investigated by Patrick Jane, played by Simon Baker.

"Working with the cast of 'The Mentalist' was a wonderful experience," she said. Baker plays a former psychic who works as an unconventional consultant to the California Bureau of Investigation. For Hudson, playing unconventional characters has been her forte.

From quirky guitarist Peg in "Freaky Friday," and mean-spirited teenager Quinn Hodes in "Weeds," to dog sitter Debby in "Marley & Me" and the mysterious Stevie in "The Pact," Hudson has made her mark with memorable performances on film and television, alike. With the success of 2012's "The Pact" where she played a blind psychic, Haley is reprising the role for the film's sequel "The Pact 2," set for release later this year.

"I enjoy playing unusual, complex people," she said, "Which can really be a challenge for an actor. It's all about bringing an unconventional character to life and making the performance believable."

Having recently completed the TV pilot "Queen Gorya," where she plays a college student trying to get a former horror movie hostess to return to television, Hudson is back with yet another offbeat role.

"I'm very excited to be a part of the show," she said. "We already have a huge fan base and are getting a lot of attention."